Newspaper Articles

Fairmont Times
April 14, 1960

Kennedy Will Give Talk At Noon Monday

Presidential Aspirant to Speak From Steps of County Courthouse

Sen. John F. Kennedy will speak from the steps of the Marion County courthouse at noon next Monday to highlight his appearance here as he campaigns in the West Virginia presidential preference primary.

Two of the Massachusetts senator’s campaign aides – one of whom, John Traynor, came into West Virginia after working as an advance man in the Wisconsin primary campaign – were here yesterday completing arrangements for the Kennedy visit. They conferred with numerous Democratic leaders while here.

Kennedy, now vacationing briefly in Florida, is expected to fly to Clarksburg from Washington late Sunday and spend the night there. He will attend a 10 a.m. coffee in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and tour the Hazel-Atlas glass plant before leaving.

An escort will meet the senator and his party at the Harrison-Marion County line and bring him here for the noon appearance [sic] at the courthouse. He plans to spend some time after his brief speech greeting voters.

Following lunch at the Palace Restaurant, Kennedy will be taken on a tour of Owens-Illinois, where he will pay one of his customary hand-shaking visits to O-I employes. He then will be escorted to the Monongalia County line, where he will be met by a group from Morgantown.

After a tour of the Sterling Faucet Co. and the Scott’s Run coal field, Kennedy will attend an evening reception in the Hotel Morgan. He will fly from Morgantown Monday evening to Wheeling to continue his tour. A formal address at Bethany College is scheduled for Tuesday.

Music for the courthouse appearance will be furnished by the American Federation of Musicians, Local 507, band. J. Carroll Carr will direct the band.

Meanwhile, the first candidate for delegate to the Democratic National Convention to disclose his preference among the candidates declared for Kennedy. Attorney Robert W. Barnes of Wellsburg, who seeks a seat from the First Congressional District, said he would run “pledged” to the Massachusetts senator.

Barnes said if elected in the May 10 primary he would vote and work for Kennedy’s nomination for President. He said he based his choice on the ability, integrity and action of the candidate, because of the “intense interest” Kennedy has demonstrated in the state of West Virginia and because he is “obviously, the choice of the people.”

The candidate for delegate said he felt that the electorate was entitled to know the preference of those seeking to represent West Virginia at the convention.